The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-12-17
AN ORIENTAL TALE.
All the Year Round.

<A CCA UdAu hluS was ucslfOuS OI nav ing statue of Buddha constructed of pure gold. Accordingly, he sum- moned the master goldsmith of his court and gave him the necessary in- structions, but required him to carry on the work at the royal palace, under close supervision, that there might not be the slightest suspicion that the precious metal had been alloyed. The goldsmith undertook to fulfil the re- quirements of the king, and then pro- ceeded to his own house to fetch the implements of his trade.
 Calling his two sons before him, he told them the commands of the king and under what strict surveillance his operations would have to be con- ducted. Then, turning to the younger, he asked him to what extent he thought it would be possible for him to debase the gold with which he would be supplied. He replied that, under the circumstances, he hardly thought it possible for one to possess himself of more than fourth part of the metal. He then asked the elder son what he had to say, and he answered that possibly so skillful an artist as his tathor might be able to appropriate one- half. Their father directed towards them look of scorn, and, gathering together his tools, left the house without saying word.
 When he arrived at the palace he commenced his work under the di- rect supervision of one of the most trusted nobles; while every precau- tion was taken to prevent any fraud.
 When the days labor was over the goldsmith was carefully searched be- fore being allowed to depart.
 On reaching home he called his two sons, and with their aid commenced making, of base metal, statue exactly resembling the one he had begun at the palace.
 Day by day the work progressed at the palace, and night after night was the labor continued at home, until the day came when the finishing touch was put to the statue of gold, and it was duly submitted to the king for approval. His majesty was delighted both with the design and it's execu- tion, and bade the goldsmith name what reward he desired in addition to the proper wages. The goldsmith bowed to the ground, and replied that he had only one request to make, which was that he might be per- mitted the privilege of bearing the image in state to the temple, where it was to be deposited. "But," said he, "as am an unclean man, and this is a sacred thing, pray that I may be al- lowed to purify it at the tank near the temple before handing it over to the priests"
 The monarch readily acceded to so pious a wish, and an suspicious hour was fixed upon by the royal astrolo- gers, when, to the sound of trumpets, drums, and pipes, the procession should set out from the palace to the shrine. All the arrangements were duly made, and at the appointed time, with elephants, banners, and yellow robed priests, the goldsmith, carrying the golden image on his head, marched proudly in front; while, last of all, surrounded by his guards, came the rajah himself.
 Through the admiring crowd, drawn up on either side of the street, the gay procession passed. At length they reach the tank, and halted. Then the goldsmith, descending the steps, stepped into the water, and, rever- ently lowering the image, immersed it for few moments. After brief in terval he reascended the steps, care- fully wiped the moisture from the image, and bore it to the entrance of the temple, where it was solemnly made over to the priests. The gold smith made his obeisance to the king, and went home. The shrine was care fully secured, and there the statue re- mained, a thing of beauty and a joy tor years to worshipers, none of whom, from the king downwards, doubted for single instant that the image was the identical one whose tashioning had been conducted under such unusual precautions. And yet the dishonest goldsmith had effected his purpose, and ere long the golden image was in the melting pot, while it's base counterfeit occupied the place of honor of the temple.
 How was this accomplished?
 That morning, ere the first streak of dawn had frightened the eastern horl- zon, the figure of a man might have been seen stealing to the tank, bear ing under his arm what on inspection would have proved to be an image of Buddha. Noiselessly descending into the water, he placed the image at the bottom of the tank, and returned as secretly as he came. It was this statue and not the golden one that the goldsmith, later on in the day, bore from the tank to the temple, and so cunningly had he copied the original